Stanislas Wawrinka battles past Filippo Volandri into the third round of Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, ranked 14th in the world, defeated world number 79 Filippo Volandri of Italy in three sets 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the second round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Wednesday. It took the Swiss one hour and 54 minutes to beat his opponent in a close contest.
Wawrinka was almost flawless in the opening set, dropping only a single game and breaking his opponent twice to bag the set 6-1.
The 26-year-old hit a single ace and 69 percent of the first deliveries in the first set, bagging 75 percent of the points on them. On the other hand, Volandri lagged behind as he had a first serve percentage of 59 percent, winning just 54 percent of the points on the first serves in the opening set. The Italian could not convert the only break point he received and failed to save two of the five break points he faced in the first set.
In the second set, both players broke each other’s serve on a number of occasions but it was Volandri who drew the final blood, breaking Wawrinka in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and serving out the set in the next game.
The Italian kept his first serve percentage at 67 percent in the second set, winning 75 percent of the points on the first serves. Wawrinka fired 68 percent of the first serves but he was troubled by Volandri’s attacking returns, grabbing a mere 40 percent of the points on his first serve in the second set. The Swiss converted two of the four break points he received but failed in saving three of the four break points he faced in the second set.
After winning the second set, Volandri was looking to dominate the rest of the match as he broke Wawrinka in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Swiss changed his strategy and started playing aggressively, breaking his opponent thrice and winning six consecutive games to capture the set 6-2.
The right-handed delivered two aces and committed the same number of double faults in the third set. Wawrinka returned tremendously well, claiming 59 percent of the first return points in the final set. The Swiss capitalized on all three break point opportunities he created in the deciding set.
Wawrinka will meet world number 2 Novak Djokovic in the third round. Djokovic crushed Lukasz Kubot of Poland in straight sets 6-0, 6-3 in the second round.
Djokovic said, talking about Wawrinka in the post match press conference, "He has been around for many years and is a great all-round player. I played against him in the finals here in 2008 and he likes this court and these conditions -- it is going to be a tough match."
Wawrinka and Djokovic will meet for the 11th time. The Swiss trails Djokovic 2-8 in the head-to-head record.
Tags: